The 20-year-old Irishman came on as a half-time sub for the Amber and Chocolates in their 1-0 friendly victory over Norwich City’s under-23s last Saturday and impressed enough to be handed the chance to spend the first half of the season at Gander Green Lane.
Drinan moved to Ipswich from Waterford in his native Ireland in January 2018 on a three-and-a-half-year deal, but is yet to make a first-team appearance, despite having been on the bench on five occasions, and has been a regular in the under-23s.
Sutton manager Paul Doswell has also agreed terms with midfielder Wayne Brown, who has been playing for Newcastle Jets in Australia’s A League for the last two years.
Brown, who will be 30 on Monday, graduated through the Fulham academy and played for Bristol Rovers before a spell in Finland, from where he joined Newcastle Jets in 2016.
However, two long-standing favourites Simon Downer and Craig Dundas, will not be featuring on the pitch as the new season starts, with Downer, who made nearly 280 appearances for the club, released this week and Dundas, who passed his 500th appearance during the pre-season programme, re-joining National League South side Hampton & Richmond Borough, although he will remain at Sutton as fitness coach. |